1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Storm surges in the Bay of Bengal

AuthorAhsan, Md. Rajib
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.WA-94-06
Subject(s)Storm surges--Bengal, Bay of

NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Civil Engineering
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementThesis ; no. WA-94-06
AbstractRealizing the severity of storm surge problem in the Bay of Bengal, particularly along Bangladesh coast, the present study has intended to (i) obtain Probable Maximum Cyclone, (ii) provide the worst possible surge heights along Bangladesh coast and (iii) understand and define the nature of the tropical cyclones those hit Bangladesh. For the purpose of obtaining Probable Maximum Cyclone and the worst possible surge height range along the Bangladesh coast, design values of storm parameters with return periods of 100, 250, 500 and 1000 years have been considered. The corresponding storm parameter values have been extracted from detailed statistical analysis. Treatment of tidal phenomenon has received due attention. Collected data on storm parameters of seventy storms for the period from 1876 to 1991 have been used in the study. BODINE'S (1971) quasi-two-dimensional bathystrophic storm surge model has been used for surge height simulation. The model has been calibrated for three severe cyclones those hit Bangladesh coast. They are October 1960 cyclone, November 1970 cyclone and April 1991 cyclone. The computed surge heights matched extremely well with the recorded maximum surge heights. The maximum variation has been 0.85 % of the observed maximum height. It is found from this study that, the vicinity of Chittagong is the most vulnerable area because of the existence of extreme shallow long continental shelf along its coast. The discharge of the great river system of Ganges-Brahmaputra with high concentration of sediment causes the profound shallowness. And the long stretch of shallow shelf results in continuous accumulation of surge height when the storm approaches the coast. From the study it has been possible to classify the zones along the entire Bangladesh coast in terms of probable magnitude of surge height.
Year1994
Corresponding Series Added EntryAsian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. WA-94-06
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Civil Engineering
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSWater Resources Research Engineering (WA)
Chairperson(s)Suphat Vongvisessomjai;
Examination Committee(s)Imamura, Fumihiko ;Sutat Weesakul ;
Scholarship Donor(s)The Government of Denmark;
DegreeThesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994


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